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14 Feb 2006 : Column 2022W—continued
Litigation (Devon)
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of litigation against (a) Torbay hospital, (b) Royal Devon and Exeter and (c) Derriford hospital there have been in each of the past five years; and how many cases for each hospital remain outstanding. [50134]
Caroline Flint:
The number of clinical negligence claims made against Torbay hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter and Derriford hospital in each of the past five years; and the number of outstanding cases for each hospital are in the table. Information on the number of non-clinical litigation cases by each hospital is not collected centrally. This information was supplied by the NHS Litigation Authority.
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Management Consultancy Services
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on management consultancy services in the NHS in each year since 1997. [48836]
Mr. Byrne: Information relating to expenditure on management consultancy services by national health service bodies is not held centrally.
Medical Provision (Aylesbury Vale)
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about the number of extra (a) hospital beds and (b) GP surgeries that will be required in Aylesbury Vale as a result of the planned expansion of housing. [44164]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Responsibility for the provision of local services rests with local national health service organisations in conjunction with other key stakeholders. However it must be stressed that different models of care may mean that services are delivered differently in line with improving NHS services.
Medicinal Products
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role her Department plays in promoting innovation in and development of new medicinal products; and what support it gives to small and medium sized enterprises for such purposes. [49845]
Jane Kennedy:
Through the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS), the Department seeks to achieve a balance between reasonable prices for the
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national health service and a fair return for the industry to enable it to research, develop and market new and improved medicines. The 2005 scheme provides significant support for research and development (R and D) and innovation through improved allowances to a maximum of 28 percent., of NHS sales including greater incentives for innovative medicines and those for children. The scheme allows for flexibility with regard to the circumstances of individual small companies. The scheme also allows freedom of pricing for new innovative medicines at their United Kingdom launch and allows a return on capital of almost 30 percent., before profits have to be repaid or prices reduced.
The Department provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct research for the benefit of patients and the wider public, including clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential new medicinal products. This infrastructure is open to our partners, including industry. Implementation of the Department's new strategy for research in the NHS published last month, Best Research for Best Health", will establish the UK as a world class environment for medical research, development and innovation, through a programme of investment and reforms to enable medicines to be developed more quickly and more cheaply.
The Department has asked the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, which brings together the public, private and voluntary sector, to hold a futures forum to advise Ministers on priority areas for innovation in healthcare. The aim of this is to foster a better common
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understanding between policy makers and those developing new therapies on the priority areas for future innovation.
Mental Health
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on average per mental health patient by each local health authority area for the past 30 years in real terms in descending order. [45566]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the requested format. However, information on mental health expenditure per head of mental health weighted population in each primary care trust is available from the national programme budget project for 2003–04 and 2004–05. This information has been placed in the Library.
Mesothelioma Research Group
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure the continued operation of the Mesothelioma Research Group based at St Bartholomew's and the London hospitals; and if she will make a statement. [48364]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 6 February 2006]: The improving cancer care programme led by the Barts and the London national health service trust, in collaboration with a range of NHS and academic partners, has received £8 million of NHS research and development support funding in 2005–06.
The trust is free to use this funding to achieve the best return on its investment in the broad spectrum of cancer research covered by the programme, and is not obliged to support work on specific types of the disease. The priority given to mesothelioma research within the trust has therefore been a matter for local decision and will remain so next year. In the future, in line with our new research strategy, Best Research for Best Health, these researchers will be able to apply for National Institute for Health Research project or programme grants.
Morning-after Pill
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the reasons for the divergence in the prescription cost and the over-the-counter price of the morning-after pill; and if she will make a statement. [49040]
Jane Kennedy:
None. The national health service prescription charge is a flat-rate charge and is not directly related to the cost of the item prescribed. All NHS prescribed contraception, including emergency contraception, is dispensed free-of-charge.
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Medication purchased direct from a pharmacy, is a private transaction and is not controlled by the Government. Prices are set competitively by retailers and include value added tax and a margin for the pharmacist.
NHS Financial Management
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 594W, on NHS financial management, if she will set out examples from case studies presented by the foundation trust network demonstrating new ways of working; and how she has evaluated whether the freedoms conferred by foundation status have allowed NHS foundation trusts to introduce new approaches to patient care more quickly and efficiently than NHS trusts. [49248]
Mr. Byrne: As a membership organisation, the Foundation Trust Network (FTN) is open to authorised and aspirant national health service foundation trust (NHSFTs). Case studies presented by the FTN are available at www.foundationtrustnetwork.org.
These and other independent case studies are demonstrating how the freedoms available to NHSFTs are allowing them to improve services for their communities, and in some cases innovate new approaches to patient care more quickly than as a national health service trust.
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